Can-capping machine.



No. 636,205. Patented Oct. 3|, I899.

J. KELLINGTON.

CAN GAPHNG MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 10, 1899.)

5 Sheets-Shut 2 (No' Model.)

W/ TNE SSE S Patented Oct. 3|, I899.

.1. KELLINGTONL CAN GAPPING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 10, 1899.)

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WITNESSES:

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- nb."e36,2o5. Patented Oct. 3|, I399. .1. KELLINGTON.

CAN GAPPING MACHINE.

(Appiicution filed Jan. 10, 1899.) (N M m 5 Sheets$heet 4'.

WITNESSES JOHN KELLINGTON, OF TERRA NOVA, CANADA, AS SIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DANIEL J. MUNN, OF N EW WESTMINSTER, CANADA.

-CAN-CAPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,205, dated October 31, 1899.

Application filed January 10, 1899. Serial No. 701,754. (No model.)

' To to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN KELLINGTON, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Terra Nova, in the Province of British 00- lumbia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can- Capping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for applying the heads or covers to cylindrical cans,such as are'used in fish, meat, and other canneries; and my object is to provide a comparatively cheap and simple machine that will apply the heads or caps to round cans in a rapid and convenient manner and also that may-be adjusted by changing some of the parts to apply the covers to cans of various diameters or lengths.

A further object of the invention is to apply caps to passing cans and to secure them thereon while such cans are passed along in a straight line in approximately an even plane and to enable the jaw mechanism to be arranged on an endless band and to receive the cans and release the same automatically, so that the operation will be continuous.

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims. I

I attain the above object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of my machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken on the line a a in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, but on a larger scale. Fig. 3 shows a vertical longitudinal section of my machine, taken on the line b b in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed plan of the mechanism which introduces the cans to their respective jaws as said jaws are passed around and also the devices that control the introduction of the caps to the cans; and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of the cap-delivering mechanism or chute, taken on the line 0 c. Fig. 5 is a crosssection of the lower end of the cap-chute, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 5. Fig. 6 shows a detailed elevation of the mechanism which pushes the can upward into the jaw that holds it while a cap is being introduced thereto and also the mechanism that introduces a cap to said can. Fig. 7 shows an enlarged section detail of the cover-fastening device, taken on line (1 cl in Fig. 3. This shows a can A being passed through and the opposite edge of the cap thereof engaged and crimped on opposite sides by the said device. Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan of one of the blocks carrying the jaws, and Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of one of the spacingfingers.

Similar letters and numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and cans are represented by the letter A, and B v in like manner indicates the caps or covers.

The table or bed 10, its legs or supports 11, and the upper frame 12, supported by the distance-pieces 13, constitute the framework of the machine.

Passing vertically through one corner of the frame 12 and the bed 10 is a shaft 14, on which is rigidly secured a sprocket-wheel 15.

At the opposite end of the frame 12 is a shaft or spindle 16, which is placed parallel to the shaft 14, but is rigidly fixed in the bed 10,

and onv this is arranged to turn a sprocket- Wheel 17, similar to Wheel15. Taking around these Wheels 15 and 17 is a chain belt 18, to which is attached a plurality of jaws, which are placed vertically to the plane of travel of the same, and pivoted to the forward ends of the jaws by pins 20 are movable jaws 21, which form a complete set of jaws for receivinga can and holding it firm while a cap is introduced thereto, as will be fully explained presently. As shown in Fig. 1, the jaws are secured at their centers to the chain belt, this being to allow them to conveniently pass around the wheels 15 and 17.

Secured on horizontal bolts 22, which take through distance-pieces 18,is a guide 23. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) This guide 23 is provided with a groove 23, which receives the outer periphery or rim of the jaws 21 and forces them forward, and thus closes and holds them so while in contact with such guide during the passage between the frame 12.

As illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, the moving jaws pass along above the center of the machine in their closed position and the guide 23 extends along between the frame 12, its

rear end being sloped ofi? outwardly, as at 23. This allows such jaws to spring open and release a can. The guide 23 is susceptible of being moved in or out by turning the nuts on the bolts 22 on each side of the distance-piece 13. This provides for taking up any slackness that may be caused by wear or straining of the parts. The fixed jaws or members 19 are provided on their upper and lower edges with opposite]yprojecting edges 19, which slide against raised guides 24 and 25 at the top and bottom of their passage over the bed.

The lower part of the jaw members 19 extends by half across each can, and to prevent the can from moving from the concavity therein I provide a fixed guide 26 on the opposite side, which keeps the passing cans in their proper position.

Movement is imparted to the chain belt 18 by means of beveled gears 27 on an intermediate shaft 28, meshing with a beveled wheel 29 on the shaft 14 and with a like wheel 30 on the main drive-shaft 31, which is suitably journaied in brackets 2, secured to the bed 10 of the machine. Passing over a wheel 33, secured to the shaft 31, and over a pulley 34, mounted on a shaft 35,is a belt 36. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The said shaft 35 is suitablyjournaled in hanger brackets 36 and 37, supported beneath the bed 10. The surface of this belt 36 is covered with fiat strips 38, as better shown in Fig. 1, and these strips when the belt is traveling on an even plane present an even surface and form a sectional band, the full object of which will be shown presently.

The cans A are fed to the machine by a belt 39, taking over a pulley secured to the shaft 31, as shown, and a guide 40, which is secured to the bed 10 and extends over the said belt in an angling position, pushes the cans from the belt to a disk 41, which disk moves in the direction of the arrow. (See Fig. 1.) This disk passes each can around to a point in alinement with the travel of the jaws 19 and 21, when the guide 26, which extends over the disk, delivers them to the sectional band 38, which supports the can as it is passed through the machine.

The disk 41 is secured to a shaft 42, which is journaled in a forwardly-angling position in the hanger36, and movement is imparted thereto by means of a beveled gear 43, screwed on the shaft 35, and a beveled gear44, fixed integral with the disk 41. The sectional band 38 is passed upward through an opening in the bed 10 and over an idler 45 to a plane slightly above the upper edge of the disk 41, and from the idler 45 said band 38 passes across the machine on a plane therewith. This drives the can upward into its cap as it is carried forward. The jaws and the sectional band 38 supporting the cans, of course, travel at the same speed. As better shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 6, the cans are introduced and pushed upward between the jaws bythe disk 41, having an upward pitch toward the and in alinement to the travel of the jaws.

This depending end of the chute is movably supported by an inverted-T-shaped bracket 48, having its oppositely-disposed lugs or trunnions. pivoted in brackets 49, secured to the chute, and the upperend of the stem is pivoted to the projecting end of the lever50, the opposite end of which is pivoted to a bracket 51, rigidlysecured on the forward cross-tie of the frame 12. Suitablyjournaled in a bracket 52, which is secured to the guide 23, is a vertically-placed rock-shaft 53. (See Fig. 4.) On the depending end of this shaft is a bracket 54, having oppositely-disposed fingers 54 and 54*, one of which will lie within the track of the cans, according to its position, and on the top of said shaft, with its boss lying on the bracket 52, is an arm 55, which extends laterally over the machine and passes through an oblique slot 50 in the lever 50. As each can passes along it will engage the finger 54, (see Figs. 4 and 6,) and this will depress the chute 47, so as to bring its under surface in proximity with the upper plane of the jaws which hold a can, and by reason of nibs 19*, arranged on opposite sides of the can-openings in the jaws at some distance to the rear of the widest place taken at right angles, a cap B will be drawn from the chute and deposited on the can held in that set of jaws, and as the can is further conveyed it will engage the finger 54 which will return the chute to its normal or elevated position. This operation is repeated for each can that comes along, but should no can be contained in one of the openings between the jaws the chute will not be depressed, and therefore a cap will not be drawn out.

To counterbalance the weight of the chute 47 and provide that the pressure required against the fingers 54 and 54 may be brought to a minimum for moving the lever 50 up and down, I provide a spring 55, which is connected to the arm 55 and to a screw 55", passing through an aperture in and secured on the opposite side of the fixed bracket 51 bya butterfly-nut 55. By means of turning the nut 55 the spring 55 may be set to the desired tension, so that the chute 47 will be raised or depressed with approximately an equal pressure on either of the fingers 54 or 54".

The chute 47 at its forward end has its bottom formed with an open way, the side flanges 5 thereof forming supports for the caps, as best shown in Fig. 5, and the side walls of the said forward end have grooves 47 (see Figs. 4, 5, and 5') for the passage of the nibs 19 of the members 19 21 when said nibs close in and the chute 47 is in its depressed position.

Secured to the upper surface of the chute and projecting downward over its mouth are resilient fingers 56. These offer a resistance to the covers or caps sufficient to prevent them from dropping from the chute until pushed forward by the mechanism, as above described.

The frame 12 is provided with a rectangular opening, which is traversed by rails 12, parallel to its side pieces, these being integral with the upper portion of the frame, but not extending so deep. (See Fig. 2.) Placed beneath these rails 12 is a frame composed of pieces 57, placed at right angles to the rails 12, and a longitudinally-placed flat strip or guide 58, and interposed between the fixed rails 12 and the cross-pieces 57 are springs 59, which may be of rubber, steel, or any resilient material. These springs provide for the guide 58 offering a yielding pressure to the cans, and thus prevent damage which would naturally occur in the event of cans of slight variation in length being introduced. Grooves 58 are provided near opposite sides of the guide 58 for the passage of the nibs 19 As indicated by Figs. 3 and 7, before ejecting the cans from beneath the frame 12 I provide a crimping device, which engages the opposite sides of the caps B and grips them, so that they are comparatively secured until they are passed through a proper crimper. This device consists of a block 60, pivoted by trunnions in brackets 61 on opposite sides of the track of the cans, the said brackets being secured to the under side of the rear part of the frame 12. The block is so placed that as a can passes thereunder it will be tightly pressed and the cap forced down snug. On opposite sides of the track of the cans are raised inwardly-projecting knife-blades 62 and 63,'the blade 62 being fixed and the other one, 63, being slightly adjustable in or out to be moved forward when worn or for accommodating cans of different diameters. On the under side of the said block 60 there are also grooves 60 for the passage of the nibs 19" on the jaws 19 and 21, as it is evident that these nibs will project above the cap after the same has been properly pressed down. When the jaw 21, embracing a can, comes to the outwardly-beveled portion of the guide 23 the said jaw will be opened by the spring 64 (see Figs. 1 and 8) and the can will be released and carried forward by the sectional band 36, whence it will be transferred by a guide 65 to a deliverybelt 66, which takes around a pulley on the shaft 31.

To properly regulate the feed of the cans in relation to the speed of the moving jaws on the belt 18 and tointroduce acan at the proper time to each set of jaws as they pass over one side of the disk 41, I provide a guideway on tures in the curved part of the guide 68 are reciprocating fingers 69, whose opposite ends are j ournaled on a four-throw crank-shaft 7 O. This shaft is suitably journaled in extending I brackets 71 and 72, respectively, the bracket 71 being secured to the bed 10 and the bracket 72 secured to the guide 68. Movement is transmitted to the crank-shaft by means of a sprocket-belt 73 taking over a wheel on the rear end thereof and over a similar wheel secured on the drive-shaft 31 at the opposite end of the machine. The transmitting-gear communicating movement to the shaft 70 must be on such a relative speed with the belt conveying the jaws that for each jaw that passes over the disk 41 the said shaft 70 will make one-half revolution, and thus move a can from one finger 69 to another, thereby placing the cans at an even distance apart upon th'eodi'sk to be introduced upward between the jaws.

' In the event of a can beingimpinged fairly between one of the fingers and the moving guide 67 to prevent damage to the can thereby the fingers have their bearings movably fixed, so that if a can is hit in its center the finger will not be driven forward, but the bearing will slide on the finger and allow the crank to turn, when the bearing will return to its normal position. The enlarged detail Fig. 9 shows this part of the mechanism, the finger 69 being looped over the shaft 70 and a slidable bar 74 interposed in the loop of the finger, the end of which is concaved to fit the shaft. The slidable bar is kept normally in its place by a coil-spring 75 encircling the stem of the same and resting against thepin 76, passed through said bar, and a pin 77, passed through the finger and compressing the opposite side of the spring. This keeps the concaved end of the bar 74 in its proper position, the said concave of which, with the curve of the finger,forms the bearing in which the crank turns; but if the can is impinged, as before mentioned, the finger is allowed to recede on the crank-shaft by reason of the bar 74 pressing back the spring until the ,throw of the crank has passed around.

It is obvious that the machine may be adjusted to accommodate cans and caps of various dimensions by removing the distancepieces 13 and substituting one of a more proper depth to poise the frame 12 the proper distance above the bed 10, so that the length of can may pass between the frame and the bed. The blocks 19, having the fixed jaws and the movable jaws, are removed from the belt 18, and blocks having jaws of a proper size are substituted therefor. The guide 58 and the block also require to be replaced by parts having the grooves 58 and 60 for the passage of the nibs 19", which will be closer together or farther apart, according to the diameter of the cans being packed.

In the operation of my improved capper the cans are supplied to the machine by the belt 39 and transferred therefrom to the sloping disk 41 by the guide 40. The said cans will be spaced by the mechanism before mentioned and passed between the open jaws 19 and 21. p The caps or covers are placed in the chute 47, which delivers one to each can as it is passed thereunder. Just before the cap is taken from the chute 47 the jaw 21 is closed by the guide 23, and the can is brought in contact with the finger 54, which depresses the chute 47, so that the nibs 19 push a cap therefrom, and as the can is passed along it engages the finger 54", (see Fig. 4,) which returns the chute 47 to its elevated position. The cover or cap will be pressed down by the guide 58 and will finally be set down tight and fastened by the block 60 and its auxiliary mechanism before being ejected from the jaw and machine, as before indicated. The above operation is repeated for each can that is received into the machine. The machine is driven by a belt taking around a loose pulley 78 on the shaft 31, and this is thrown in and out of action by a clutch 79, sliding on a feather on the said shaft and operated by the lever 80, which is pivoted on a bracket 81, projecting from the bed of the machine.

Although I have particularly described the construction and relative parts and operation of my said invention, I do not wish to be strictly confined to such details of construction, as modifications may be made in practice without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my improved machine, what I claim, and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for applying caps or covers to cans, the combination of a bed 10 with a frame 12, fixed at a suitable distance above the same, a vertical spindle or shaft 16 passing through the bed and the frame 12, a shaft 14 arranged in a similar manner near the opposite end of said frame, sprocket-wheels 15 and 17 mounted and fixed loosely on shafts 14 and 16, respectively, a sprocket-belt 18 taking around said wheels, jaws 19 and 21 secured on said belt, means for delivering cans to said jaws, and caps or covers to the cans, and for moving the cans and caps in a straight line while the caps are being pressed and fastened on the cans, as specified.

2. A machine for the purposes described, having a bed and a frame 12 arranged thereover, and wheels mounted on vertically-disposed shaft-s l4 and 16, and a belt 18 taking around the same, jaws secured to the belt 18 for receiving the mouths of cans, a cap-chute 47 adapted to be depressed to deliver a cap automatically to each can as itis passed there under, and means for elevating said chute by the action of the same can, so that another cap will not be delivered until the next can comes along, as set forth.

3. In combination with a bed and a frame arranged thereover, a belt 18 arranged upon pulleys or wheels at each end of said frame, jaws fixed on said belt, a movable jaw pivoted to each of the fixed ones and normally held open by a spring interposed between the inner side of the movable jaw and the back frame of the fixed one, of means for delivering cans to the jaws while open, and closing the same upon the tops of said cans, and of delivering a cap to each of the cans on the up er side of the jaws and for passing said can along in a straight line through a slightly compressed chute as regards the depth of the can, whereby the cap will be pressed down tight.

4. In a machine for capping cans, havinga bed and a frame fixed thereover, andameans for passing the cans therebetween in a straight line while being capped, jaws fixed on a horizontally-traveling band for receiving the cans on one side of the machine and releasing them on the other after they have received their caps, in combination with a chute for delivering caps automatically to the cans by the engagement of the passing cans with a mechanism for depressing and raising said chute, as specified.

5. In a machine for the purposes specified, having a bed and a frame fixed thereover, and means for passing cans in a straight line between the bed and the frame, while being capped, jaws for receiving the cans before passing beneath the said frame, and means for pushing the cans between the jaws while open, and for closing the same tight on the can while being passed along in a straight line, as setforth.

6. In a machine for applying the covers to cans, the combination of the bed and the frame fixed thereover, with means for passin cans between the same in a straight line while receiving their covers, a rotary disk 41 mounted at an angle to the plane of the bed, the rear edge of which is approximately level with the top of the same, a sectional band 38 secured to a belt 36 taking around pulleys or wheels 33 and 34 near opposite ends of the machine, the upper surface of said band being passed up through the bed in proximity to the rear rim of the disk 41 and passing over the bed on a slight rising plane rearward, means for passing cans to the disk and to the sectional band, and of introducing their open ends to jaws moving above said band and at the same speed thereto, and forintroducing a cap to each can as it enters on the band as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a machine for applying the covers to cans, having a bed with a frame 12 arranged thereover in combination with a sectional band 38 made to pass over the bed on a slightly-rising plane rearward in relation to said bed, and a guide 58 secured in a frame slightly vertically movable, fixed in the frame 12, and means for passing cans along on the band 38 beneath the guide 58, whereby their coverswill be pressed down.

8. In a can-capping machine having a bed and a frame arranged thereover, and means for passing cans between the same on a sectional band 38 in combination with a device for finally setting down the cover and temporarily securing thesame, consisting of a block 60 pivoted in suitable fastenings to the frame 12, and knife-blades 62 and 63 for engaging the opposite side of the cap, as specified.

9. A mechanism for spacing cans arranged in combination with a feed-belt 39, consisting of a guide-bracket for defiectin g the cans from said belt, a revolving disk 41 for receiving the same, and alternately-movable fingers reciprocating over the disk within the track of the cans, whereby these are spaced, as specified.

10. Afeed and spacing mechanism for cans consisting of a disk suitably mounted in an angling position forwardly, means for imparting movement to the disk, a rim 67 secured to the disk acting as a guide for the cans, a fixed curved bracket 68 following the contour of the front side of the disk, which acts as a guide on the opposite side of the cans, a fourthrow crank-shaft 7 O mounted in suitable bearings, fingers 69 journaled on the said crank-shaft, with their opposite ends passing through apertures in the curved bracket 68, and means for imparting movement to the crank-shaft 70 in relation to the speed of the disk 41, whereby the cans will be spaced as specified.

11. In a machine for applying the covers or caps to cans, having a bed and a frame arranged thereover, wheels 15 and 17 mounted on vertically-arranged shafts and a belt taking around said Wheels, a plurality of jaws secured to said belt, means for imparting movement to said belt, a feed-disk for introducing cans between said jaws and means for closing the same 011 the respective cans, and for delivering a cap to each can and for pressing it down thereon while the said can is passed over the bed in a straight line.

12. In a machine for the purpose as specified, having a bed and a frame mounted thereover, a sectional band 38 passing over the bed and a disk 41 arranged to turn with its upper plane at an angle to the plane of the bed, and the inner side being approximately in line with the travel of the band 38 in combination with an endless band or belt 18 mounted to travel on a horizontal plane around vertical shafts and at the same speed as the band 38, of jaws adapted to receive and firmly hold cans while the bands 18 and 38 travel approximately in the same line through the machine and means for applying a cap to each can as it is passed along, substantially as set forth.

13. In a machine for applying caps to cans, having abed and a belt passing around wheels mounted on-vertical shafts above the same, a plurality of jaws mounted on said belt, means for holding the jaws apart and for in troducing cans between the same, in combi nation with a cap-chute with its delivery end over the path of the jaws, means for depress ing said chute to close proximity with the tops of passing cans, and for Withdrawing a cap therefrom to each can, and pressing it down upon the same, as specified, while the jaws are passing over the bed in a straight line.

JOHN KELLINGrTONa Witnesses:

W. G. TRETHEWEY, ROWLAND BRITTAIN. 

